ANCHORAGE, AK – Kitchen staff at the Alaska Native Medical Center (ANMC) recently participated in a hands-on workshop learning traditional seal processing techniques from Tlingit seal hunter Tim Ackerman. The April 15th training, a shift in the hospital’s approach to utilizing traditional foods, involved Ackerman demonstrating the butchering of a harbor seal using a sharpened piece of volcanic glass.
Ackerman, who has long donated seal meat to the hospital, guided chefs, nutritionists, adn cultural practitioners through each step of the process, emphasizing the cultural meaning alongside the practical skills. The workshop reflects a growing effort to preserve Indigenous foodways within the hospital system.
ANMC integrates traditional foods into patient care through its “Traditional Tuesdays” program, wich features meals like caribou stew and, newly, seal soup. Ackerman describes seal meat as a ”power food,” noting its high protein, iron, and calorie content, making it particularly valuable in cold climates and for patients managing conditions like iron deficiency or diabetes.
Supporters of the program highlight the emotional and cultural benefits of serving traditional foods, believing familiar meals can improve patient well-being, foster a connection to heritage, and support recovery.
